S^^KSJS^W^^lif ;; '-'? "' - 



433 



py 




The Maintenanci 
of Lawns 

Courses 



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Foreword 

I' ^1 

In this day of keen business competition, it has come to 
pass that the advertisements and advertising literature of 
commercial houses cannot well be ignored. 

From them, not only can we learn of new products and 
inventions that may be of real advantage to us, but also, 
they put forth their information in a concise, practical, and 
easily intelligible manner ; prime requisites of efficient sales- 
manship. 

It is a common experience to find in the publications of 
trustworthy concerns, reliable scientific information well 
worth reading, and which will stand the test of closest ex- 
pert scrutiny. 

Old time advertisements with their general promises, 
cure-alls, and extravagant claims, are as much out of date 
as the erstwhile loquacious, smooth-tongued salesman. 

So in this booklet, we are explicit about the limitations 
as well as the possibilities of Takoma Odorless Lawn Plant 
Food, and also are informative regarding problems which 
confront lawn growers, even though we may be unable to 
advise our product as a remedial measure in all cases. 

ODORLESS PLANT FOOD COMPANY. 



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©cl.A4;^H'^l4 




HE planting that surrounds a suburban home and 
gives to it its setting is fully as important, if not 
more so, than the architecture of the residence. 
The selection and arrangement of this planting 
indicates the occupant's taste; the care it receives, 
his character. 



^ In the appearance of a suburban home nothing surpasses 
the lawn in importance. The lawn is the first feature that 
catches our eye; its appearance is the last impression we 
carry away. If you admire a place you will find, nine times 
out of ten, it is because it has a good lawn. It has been aptly 
said that the greensward is the canvas upon which all archi- 
tectural and landscape effects are produced. 



THE MAINTENANCE OF LAWNS 

^ Whether the lawn be large or small ; whether it consist 
of a small grass plot alongside the walk leading into a city 
house or contain broad acres of land in front of the resi- 
dence of a suburban estate, it is always in the forefront. 
Whether it may be a cause of constant daily annoyance to 
its owner and to passersby or a source of increasing satis- 
faction, depends entirely on how the lawn is kept. 



ARRANGEMENT OF LAWN AND SHRUBBERY. 



f| It is hardly germane to the scope of this booklet to touch 
on the subject of how lawns should be laid out, not only in 
order to give the most pleasing appearance, but also in order 
to make their proper care a lighter burden, in fact an enjoy- 
ment. 



^ Suffice it to say here, that the most pleasing lawns are 
those that have an uninterrupted sweep bordered on the 
edges by groups of shrubbery and trees, in front of which 
the fiower seeds, bulbs and perennials are planted. 



^ It is a mistake too commonly made by the inexperienced 
to mar the sweep of the lawn by a young tree planted here. 

Page i 



THE MAINTENANCE OF LAWNS 

a flower bed planted there arbitrarily in the middle of the 
lawn. Such indiscriminate planting greatly detracts from 
the ornamental possibilities of the place. 



^ Economically such planting is wrong because these larger, 
coarser feeding plants are bound to draw heavily on the 
nourishment in the soil to the detriment of the more tender 
lawn grass to which this plant food properly belongs. 
Shaded lawns are almost invariably starved for this reason. 
If both trees and shrubs with their myriad of fine feeding 
roots, and lawn grass have to be grown on the same area, 
increased applications of plant food are imperative. Lawns 
of this character respond very promptly to applications of 
Takoma Odorless Lawn Plant Food. 



^ Practically such planting is incorrect, because the man 
who mows the lawn has all these impedimenta to avoid with- 
out injury and each one must be trimmed around by hand. 
This doubles the work and the time required to accomplish 
it. To mow an open lawn is a pleasure, but to mow a lawn 
dotted every here and there with some kind of plant, tree or 
shrub is a task. It is but a natural consequence that the 
open lawn usually receives the benefit of prompt and fre- 
quent cutting, whereas the crowded lawn will tend to be 
injured by neglect in mowing. 

Page 5 



THE MAINTENANCE OF LAWNS 

^lf you have acquired a place with a lawn marred and 
encumbered by plants, be advised, notwithstanding the prob- 
able criticism of neighbors, to dig up these intruders as soon 
as you can — immediately, before you get accustomed to 
them. Of course, you can transplant them in some other 
location, as, in the border. 



^A well arranged lawn can be made lo give the maximum 
eifect with the minimum effort and expense. The grounds 
around any home must be utilized in some way. From a 
practical labor saving standpoint as much of the area as 
possible should be put in lawn. It can be kept up satisfac- 
torily with much less attention than if the ground were 
devoted to any other purpose, such as a flower, vegetable or 
formal garden. 



HOW TO ESTABLISH A LAWN. 



fl There are so many good publications on the proper 
methods for preparing, grading, seeding and fertilizing a 
newly made lawn, that it is unnecessary to touch on these 
subjects here. We will gladly send anyone interested the 

Page 6 



THE MAINTENANCE OF LAWNS 

titles of Government publications and text books thoroughly 
covering the subject. 



© But let this be emphasized here. Do not l6ave it to your 
Builder to give you a lawn, or you will probably regret it. 
Too often it happens that a builder, with his attention 
focused on the residence only, leaves his trash strewn 
around, covers it with stiff bottom clay removed in excava- 
ting for the cellar and then covers up this multitude of sins 
with some beautiful appearing grass sods. He has fin- 
ished his contract. You may be pleased at first but you 
soon discover to your increasing annoyance that the grass 
in these sods dies out from starvation, and is replaced by 
either weeds or bare ground. 



^ If you are going to allow the builder or contractor to 
establish your lawn insist that all trash be removed, and 
also any stiff clay; that a very liberal quantity of fine 
manure be mixed with the excavated material, or else, at 
least three inches of good top soil be spread before any sod 
is laid. Then, keep the sods properly fertilized, and they 
will endure. 



Page 7 



HOW TO MAINTAIN A LAWN. 




PROBLEM of maintenance is rarely as interesting 
and as willingly faced as a problem in construction. 
Maintenance, whether it be of a building, road, 
garden or lawn, necessitating as it does, periodic 
regular attention lacks the novelty experienced in 
constructing it new the first time. 



^ Few undertake to keep the weeds out of their gardens 
during the heat of midsummer with the same alacrity as 
they planted these gardens in the early spring. Yet, if a 
garden be not maintained free of weeds it fails to accom- 
plish its purpose no matter how carefully it may have been 
prepared. 



^ Under this heading there is ample opportunity for this 
booklet to be of decided use. It is noteworthy that the 
majority of publications have confined their attentions 
chiefly to the original preparation of lawns, and given little 
regard to methods of maintenance for established lawns. 
The principal question about a lawn is — How are you going 
to maintain it? Not only to keep it up to its present stand- 
ard, but to make it better from year to year? A lawn has to 
endure a long time. You have not the opportunity to renew 
it every season. 

Paje 8 



THE MAINTENANCE OF LAWNS 

^ This is the eyer-present problem we must face with our 
lawns, namely, their maintenance, as they are not self -sus- 
taining and will deteriorate if neglected. 



^ But fortunately, it is not a difficult matter to keep lawns 
in excellent condition and comparatively little expense or 
labor is required. 



^ Considering the time which must in any event be spent 
in caring for the lawn, it is unquestionably worth while to 
have a lawn worthy of the name and the attention devoted 
to it, if we can do so. 



DIFFICULTY HERETOFORE ENCOUNTERED IN SE- 
CURING NEEDED SUPPLIES. 




DRMERLY the suburban resident lacked the benefit 
of needed instructions on the proper maintenance 
of lawns. In addition, it has been increasingly dif- 
ficult for him to secure his needed supplies. 

In the first place, lawns need food. How could 
he, then, procure this food? From the fertilizer 



I':it.a- 9 



THE MAINTENANCE OF LAWNS 

manufacturers? They made no plant foods for lawns. The 
kinds they manufactured were for farm crops, and their 
salesmen and advertising literature were distributed among 
farming communities, the object being to dispose of their 
product in carload lots. Tonnage output was the main con- 
sideration with them. They could not afford to cater to 
suburban needs. 



^ Some of the seed houses in the larger cities undertook to 
supply this demand as an accommodation to their customers. 
While they offered to sell fertilizer in small quantities, they 
were not manufacturers and handled only the standard 
brands of the fertilizer manufacturers, which, as just stated, 
are designed for farm crops and not for lawns and gardens. 
As an additional handicap these seed houses have no satis- 
factory method of delivering, in small quantities, the fertil- 
izers they may handle to the outlying suburban districts. 



n Consequently the suburban resident turned to the nearest 
livery stable for manure as the only practical method of 
securing plant food of any kind. 



^ Takoma Odorless Plant Foods for Lawns and Gardens are 
correctly made to meet the specific needs of lawns, golf 
courses and gardens. Unlike other houses, we have con- 

Pagre 10 



THE MAINTENANCE OF LAWNS 

ceived and perfected a mail delivery plan by which we can 
easily reach anyone regardless of his location. Owing to the 
odorless character of these plant foods, shipment is made by 
parcel post as well as by express and freight. Unusually 
prompt conveyance to your door of any sized order is thus 
effected. We simply divide up the order and mail it in as 
many fifty-pound packages as are required to fill it. Orders 
up to and including two hundred pounds, within the two 
zone limit, are more readily and economically mailed than 
they can be shipped by any other means. 

t| Then too, lawns often need lime. How could it be ascer- 
tained whether a lawn was in need of lime, and if so, how 
much and what kind? The farmers throughout the United 
States in almost every agricultural county have County 
Agents representing the United States Department of Agri- 
culture who advise them, answer their inquiries, and assist 
them in obtaining their needs. But the man who lives in the 
suburbs, even though he may own ten acres or more, is 
obliged to solve his own problems as best he may. 

^ You can examine your soil yourself with a simple test to 
see whether or not lime is needed. All you require are some 
strips of blue litmus paper procurable at any drug store, or 
we will gladly send you some. 

When the grround is moderatelr moist take a handful of the soil, and make a 
compact ball of It. Cut this ball in half with a knife. Lay a strip of the 
litmus paper between the two halves, leaving one end stickini; out so you can 
locate it, and press the two halves together firmly to bring: the soil in close 
contact with the paper. In fifteen minutes remove the paper, and, if it has 
turned red lime is needed: if it retains its original blue color. lime is not 
neadad. p 

Page U 



NEED OF FOOD. 



HILE other practices explained later on, must be 
observed to successfully maintain a lawn, the pri- 
mary requisite is food. 

^ Takoma Odorless Lawn Plant Food fills this need 
more economically and more satisfactorily than 
any other yon can procure. But, whether you get 

it from us or from some one else, do not forget that your 

lawn needs to be fed. 




fl The successful farmer every time whether he raises 
cotton, hay, peaches or what not, is the one who has the 
most thorough understanding of the plant food needs of the 
crops he raises. 



C| Plants cannot grow without nourishment. Nothing living 
can grow without food. This seems a simple fact, yet many 
fail to realize it! Grass, flowers, shrubs, and vegetables — 
any growing plants — have the same appetite as a growing 
child. 



^ An area in grass contains many, many more plants than 
a similar area in some cultivated crop. The need of more 
food for lawns is therefore apparent, and this must be sup- 
plied if the grass is to survive. 



Page IS 



THE MAINTENANCE OF LAWNS 

^The leafage of all plants in the vegetable kingdom is 
green. Just because your lawn area may remain covered 
with a green growth, do not fail to realize that green weeds 
may be stealthily replacing the lawn grass. If so, you are 
gradually losing the velvety turf and soon will be face to 
face with the necessity of making the lawn over. 



^The various state experiment stations and the United 
States Department of Agriculture have conducted few ex- 
periments concerning correct fertilization for established 
lawns. But in recent years, as a result of widespread dem- 
onstrations, definite conclusions have been reached by the 
leading agriculturists of this country regarding the proper 
fertilization of hay crops. A lawn is a grass crop like hay. 
But a lawn is expected to endure longer than a hay meadow; 
consequently, these conclusions should apply even more em- 
phatically to lawns than they do to hay crops. 



^A brief summary of the latest recommendations for fer- 
tilizing hay crops is here given. A list of the references is 
appended for those who may wish to investigate the subject 
in greater detail (a). 



(a) "Forasre Crops," by H B. Voorhiees, Director of the N«w Jersey Experiment 
Stations. The Macmillan Co. 1911. Pages 317-319. 

. "Fertilizers and Manures," by A. D. Hall, Director of the Rothamsted <Englan4) 
Experiment SUtion. E. P. Dutton A Co. 1910. Pa«re 827. 

Page 13 



THE MAINTENANCE OF LAWNS 



In seeding down meadows, even fertile land should be 
well supplied with available chemical plant food. 

Meadows should be top-dressed every spring with chemi- 
cal plant food to encourage deep rooting of the grasses and 
thickening of the sward, resulting in gradually increased 
yields. 

There is no farm crop on which fertilizers will return a 
greater profit than on the hay crop, and at the same time 
the land is made more productive for succeeding crops. 

Chemical plant foods are preferable to manure for hay 
crops because the elements of value in manure are lost 
when the manure cannot be mixed with the soil, and also 
because the lumps in manure kill the grass immediately 
under them, thus making impossible a uniform close turf 
so essential to maximum yield. 

Unfertilized sod will result not only in decreased yield 
but in. the increasing preponderance of weeds. 

Phosphoric acid, lime and nitrogen give paying results 
on grass;- potash does not. 

Chemical fertilizers, when concentrated and used in large 
quantities, should be applied just before the bejginning of a 
rain, or they should be watered into the soil to prevent 
burning; the grass. They should never be applied to the 
grass when wet with dew or rain as the grass may be 
severely burned. 



^ Professor E. B. Voorhees, Director of the New Jersey Ex- 
periment Station, speaking of lawns, says in his book entitled 
"Fertilizers" (pages 325-326) : 

"The use of manure involves considerable labor, both in 
the application and the consequent removal of the coarse 
part in the spring, besides resulting in the introduction 
of weed seeds. 



"Crops and Methods of Soil Improvement," by Alva Agee, Director of the Experi- 
ment Station of Pennsylvania State College. The Macmillan Co. 191S. Page 217. 

"Grass Culture." Virsinia Polytechnic Institute of Agriculture Experiment Sta- 
tion Bulletin No. 193. Page 15. 

"Farm Grasses in the United States," by W. J. Spillman. Chief of the Office of 
Farm Management, United States Department of Agriculture. Orange, Judd A Co. 
1912. Pages 214-21S. 

Page 14 



THE MAINTENANCE OF LAWNS 



In the preparation of a soil for a lawn, it must be sup- 
plied with an abundance of all the necessary fertilizer in- 
gredients previous to seeding, and of these phosphoric acid 
and nitrogen are especially important* Too great an ex- 
cess of potash encourages the development of the clovers 
rather than the grasses. ... 

The after fertilization may consist chiefly of nitrogen, 
preferably as a nitrate, since its ready solubility permits 
of its penetration into the lower layers, which encourages a 
deeper root system, and thus greater resistance to 
drought." 



q^Mr. H. R. Gates, in the pamphlet "Killing Dandelions in 
Lawns" (United States Department of Agriculture^ Elureau 
of Plant Industry, Office of Forage Crop Investigations. 
Just published), states: 

"Weeds are usually found most abundant in those lawns 
where the soil has been so depleted. of organic matter and 
plant food that the grass does not thrive. The first step 
necessary to maintain a lawn free from weeds is to in- 
crease the fertility and improve the mechanical condition 
of the soil sufficient to obtain a luxurious growth of grass, 
which will eventually choke out most of the weeds, or at 
least make them much less noticeable." 



^ Takoma Odorless Lawn Plant Food is the practical em- 
bodiment of the scientific recommendations made by these 
leading agricultural authorities. 



"The Effect of Fertilizers Applied to Timothy on the Com Crop Followins It." 
Cornell Unireraity Auriciiltural Experiment Station Bulletin No. 27S. Pase 55. 

"Instructions to County Asrents in Farmers' Co-operative Demonstration Work." 
United States Department of Agriculture. No. 601. 

"Meadows and Pastures." Pennsylvania State Collesre Experiment Station Bulle- 
tin No. 101. Paares 8-4. 

"The Hay Crop." by Professor Brooka. Massachuaetts Agricultural Experiment 
SUtion Bulletin No. 1S4. Pagea 21-24. 

Pagre l.s 



WHY LAWNS DETERIORATE. 




ACK of food will result in stunted growth. The 
grass, instead of having a vivid green color, as- 
sumes a yellowish tinge, becomes scarce, and does 
not grow vigorously. The need of cutting becomes 
less frequent. Insects and fungous diseases im- 
mediately take advantage of weakened plants and 
attack them. Weeds, which are more hardy, re- 
place those grass plants that have completely succumbed. 

Walt Mason makes the following reflection : 

"Upon my lawn, I know not why, the dandelions thrive ; 
The grass may all curl up and die, but they'll remain alive. 
I've tried about a million plans to have the vile things slain ; 
And all the schemes were also-rans, and all my efforts vain. 

"The fair petunias that I bought, at fabulous expense ; 
The sweet begonias that I brought and planted by the fence ; 
The tulip from the Netherlands, they all have died the death, 
But, still the dandelion stands, disfiguring the heath. 

"My vine and fig-tree withered are, the rose bush passed 

away, 
The fern that grew in yonder jar shows symptoms of decay ; 
The lilac, when nights were cold, turned up its tender toes, 
And still the dandelion bold its streak of yellow shows. 

"If dandelions were desired ; if they would bring in mon. 

If every gardener aspired to raise them by the ton, 

They'd make a specialty of death; they'd languish from their 

birth, 
And shrivel at the slightest breath, and perish from the 

earth." 

Paue 16 



THE MAINTENANCE OF LAWNS 

^ For the sake of your pride and for the lawn's sake, do not 
starve your lawn and expect it to do its work. 



^Giving your lawn the requisite plant food will not only 
produce a vigorous growth of good color. The root systems 
will materially enlarge, securing a wider and deeper feeding 
area, thus enabling the grass to withstand dry weather. 

Too much emphasis cannot be laid on this point. 



^The standard lawn grass, Kentucky Blue Grass, makes 
its growth in the cool of the year, spring, early summer and 
fall. Its ability to withstand the trying droughts and heat 
of July and August, as well as its ability to withstand the 
loosening effect of the winter alternate freezes and thaws, 
depends absolutely on the hold it has gotten on the land. 



^ Proper fertilization produces quick results in the appear- 
ance and vigor of the growth above ground, and what is 
equally, if not more important, the grass roots are thus 
enabled to so completely occupy the ground that they get a 
hold from which they cannot readily be dislodged by the 
common lawn enemies, weeds, ants and moss. 



^A properly fertilized lawn will stay greener throughout 
the summer without any artificial watering, than a starved 
lawn will, even if watered every evening. 

Page 17 



THE MAINTENANCE OF LAWNS 

^ Some of our customers have complained because Takoma 
Odorless Lawn Plant P'ood made their grass grow so steadily 
as to make much more cutting necessary. The oftener a 
lawn has to be mown, the better it is for the grass. Heavy 
growth, with frequent cutting, makes the dense velvety turf 
which constitutes the satisfactory greensward. 



OTHER NEEDS. 



fl While food is the main requisite and lack of food is the 
limiting factor in the great majority of lawns, certain other 
practices and needs must be attended to. 



Rolling . — Every lawn should be rolled in the spring before 
the soil begins to dry out too much. Many grass plants are 
loosened and heaved up by the alternate freezing and thaw- 
ing during the winter. This rolling brings the grass roots 
again into close contact with the soil, a firm soil being very 
necessary for lawn grass. 



^ This rolling is important and should not be neglected. 
Many suburban sections have a community roller to use for 
this very necessary purpose. 

Pasre 18 



THE MAINTENANCE OF LAWNS 




EED of Lime. — Lawn grass will not do well in a soil 
that is acid. Lime is used to neutralize this acid 
and "sweeten" the soil. There is a tendency due 
to several reasons, for most soils to become acid. 
Organic acids are formed in the earth by decom- 
posing organic matter. Plants, in their growth, 
remove more mineral bases than they do acids. 

The chief reason, however, is found in the large loss of lime 

and the alkali salts in the drainage water. 



q Even if you prepared the lawn and applied lime in ac- 
cordance with the best established practice, the chances are 
that, within three or four years, your lawn will again need 
lime. A simple method of determining if a lawn is in need 
of lime was given on page 11. The presence of sorrel or 
moss is almost infallible evidence of the need of lime. 

On the other hand there are some lawns in which only white 
clover seems to do well, and is resorted to in order to hold the 
weeds in check. Under such circumstances no need of lime is 
indicated, as the clovers are even more sensitive to the need of 
lime than is lawn grass. 

What is indicated, however, is that plant food is needed. The 
clover being one of the legumes, has the ability to get its nitro- 
gen from the air and so flourishes without the addition of any 
plant food, whereas the more unfortunate lawn grass, which does 
not possess this faculty, languishes and dies out for need of 
nitrogen. 

Lawn owners who have turned to white clover as a last resort 
to keep their lawns looking respectable have only to apply 
Takpma Odorless Lawn Plant Footl liberally, together with the 
needed grass seed instead of clover seed, in order to regain the 
lost lawn grass and enjoy a grass lawn instead of a lawn of 
clover mixed with weeds. 

Page 19 



THE MAINTENANCE OF LAWNS 

^ In applying lime it makes little difference what kind you 
procure. This will depend only on what kind you can get 
most readily, and its price. 

^ However, remember this: Two thousand pounds of 
ground limestone or air-slaked lime, fifteen hundred pounds 
of hydrated or water-slaked lime and one thousand pounds 
of lump or unslaked caustic lime, each contain approximately 
the same amount of calcium oxide, which is the real "lime" 
we are after. Ordinarily the preceding quantities should be 
applied to one acre. Caustic lime should invariably be slaked 
before application. 



^ Good lawn plant foods should carry a large percentage of 
lime. If such plant foods are used annually, as they should 
be, enough lime will be added with them to obviate the ne- 
cessity of regularly liming with raw lime, which is a very 
disagreeable operation. Takoma Odorless Lawn Plant Food 
contains a large percentage of lime and if used annually, 
after the lawn is once supplied with the necessary lime con- 
tent, will supply sufficient lime ever afterward. 




UMUS . — Understand that humus is not a plant food. 
Its effect on soil is physical, not chemical. Its 
function is to give plants a comfortable home but 
not to feed them. Humus is decayed organic mat- 
ter. Its great advantage is its ability to increase 
the water-holding capacity of soils, and to improve 

Pape 20 



THE MAINTENANCE OF LAWNS 

their tilth. The difference between top-soil and sub-soil is 
principally due to humus. This is found only to the depth of 
growing vegetation, and its presence accounts for the darker 
color of the top-soil. 



^ It serves an important purpose in gardens and other cul- 
tivated crops which lose their humus through constant cul- 
tivation, and it must be constantly replenished from outside 
sources. 



^ Humus is not, however, essential for the upkeep of estab- 
lished lawns. Either good top-soil or a soil that has had a 
liberal supply of humus added to it, is of vital importance in 
making new lawns. But for established lawns, plant foods 
which cause an increase in root growth will thus necessarily 
increase the humus content of the soil. The same principle 
applies to hay, small grains or other crops that completely 
cover the surface of the ground. This is the scientific ex- 
planation of the practice of farmers to fertilize their small 
grain crops and manure their com crop. Thus the needed 
humus supply, in the case of grass crops, is maintained 
without expense simply by using the proper plant food. 



^ The authorities previously mentioned emphasize this 
fact. One of the great advantages, as they accentuate, 
which the farmer secures from the fertilization of his hay 
crop, is the thicker sod or turf he has to turn down for his 

Page 21 



THE MAINTENANCE OF LAWNS 

succeeding com crop, com being a cultivated crop that re- 
quires a large amount of humus. 



n Some forms of humus are detrimental to lawns. Com- 
mercial humus, sterilized sheep manure and other specially 
prepared forms of humus would not be injurious. But stable 
manure, unless it be thoroughly rotted and very finely divid- 
ed, may be harmful to established lawns. 



Q It is not intended to belittle in any way the merit of ma- 
nure and its far-reaching elEfect when used in the right place. 
Manure that has been properly cared for is probably the 
most desirable form of humus, differing from the commer- 
cial forms in that it contains a very liberal percentage of 
jplant food and is a seething mass of beneficial soil bacteria. 

^ But its use as a top-dressing for established lawns is not 
recommended. Established lawns do not require humus. 
The plant foods contained in the manure can be much more 
economically furnished by concentrated plant foods and in 
proportions better suited to the needs of lawn grass. The 
bacterial benefit is lost if the manure is not turned under 
and is allowed to remain on the surface, as would be neces- 
sary if employed on lawns. 

^ Manure contains many organic acids which sour the land 
and make more liming necessary. If not finely divided the 

Pape SS 



THE MAINTENANCE OF LAWNS 

lumps in it will kill the grass under them, much as matted 
grass will do when mowing the lawn has been deferred too 
Icng and the grass not raked off. Manure that is not thor- 
oughly rotted contains many weed seeds, which serious ob- 
jection alone should prohibit its use on lawns. 

S anding . — When the land is inclined to be heavy an addi- 
tion of clean sand in the spring, swept in among the grass, 
is often of great benefit. It also acts as a very effective 
mulch. The capillary water of soils on which plants depend 
to dissolve their needed food, rises through sand much 
slower than through clays and silts. Sand on the surface 
therefore acts as a check to the loss of this capillary water 
from the surface by evaporation. 

Reseeding . — It is good practice to reseed a lawn lightly 
prior to the early spring rolling, say one pound of good clean 
seed to every thousand square feet, but this is not essential 
if a good clean sod is already established. 

Watering . — About as much harm as good is undoubtedly 
done through this practice. A little watering is worse than 
none. The ground should be thoroughly- soaked or not wat- 
ered at all. Light sprinkling, insufficient to produce deep 
percolation, by destroying the dry surface mulch and accom- 
plishing nothing more, will actually increase the loss of capil- 
lary soil water through evaporation. 



Page 23 



THE MAINTENANCE OF LAWNS 

HE foregoing pages cover important points which 
are ordinarily overlooked in literature published on 
the subject of lawns. They aim to cover the very 
questions which we are asked to answer in our 
daily correspondence. Our purpose has been to make 
practical suggestions, stating the reasons underlying 
them in a manner intelligible to all. A recommen- 
dation is best remembered if the reason for it be clearly 
comprehended. 




^ Lawn grass is the most exacting of all crops, and no half 
way success will do as in other crops. A poor lawn is much 
worse than none. But if the few suggestions mentioned in 
this booklet are observed there is every reason why success 
will ensue. 



SERVICE DEPARTMENT. 




UR services are at your command to aid you in solv- 
ing your lawn problems. Likewise, inquiries re- 
garding gardens, hardy shrubs and other planting 
will receive careful consideration though the ques- 
tion be foreign to our plant foods. Where the in- 
quiry involves the use of plant foods, if the need 

Pape 24 



THE MAINTENANCE OF LAWNS 

of our plant foods is indicated, we will frankly tell you so ; 
if not, we will also tell you that with equal frankness. 



C| In our staff we have several Cornell Agricultural Grad- 
uates, men who have occupied official positions on State 
Experiment Stations, and in the United States Department 
of Agriculture; also men experienced in the plant food in- 
dustry who have made a life study of plant food needs. In- 
quiries are referred to the men best equipped to answer the 
particular question presented. The benefit of their exper- 
ience is yours for the asking. We make only one request. 
Please enclose postage for reply. 



TAKOMA ODORLESS LAWN PLANT FOOD, (a) 

^ To meet your lawn plant food needs, we manufacture and 
offer this material. It will not make grass grow on spots 
where there is neither grass nor grass seed. It will not give 
its maximum result on lawns that are in need of lime or 
rolling. But it is the best and most economical material on 
the market to make grass grow and thus secure the objec- 
tive, a velvety thick turf. 



(a) Can also be UBcd to top-dreM roses and other flowere and vegetables which 
lack visor. 

Pane 25 




THE MAINTENANCE OF LAWNS 

LAWN is growing throughout the spring, summer 
and fall. Therefore Takoma Odorless Lawn Plant 
Food can be applied at any time. It is often pref- 
erable, depending on conditions such as the age of 
the growth, to make several Smaller applications 
from time to time during the season rather than 
apply all at one time. If used all at one time, appli- 
cation should be made about the time of the "April showers" 
v/hich frequently now come in May, or else in the fall, the 
last half of September or the first half of October. Applica- 
tion at these times enables the lawn grass to derive the full- 
est benefit from the plant food during the cool weather best 
adapted to its growth. 

q Takoma Odorless Lawn Plant Food is a strong concen- 
trated food made from standard scientifically combined fer- 
tilizer materials. The essential elements of food, phosphoric 
acid, nitrogen and lime, are condensed into the smallest pos- 
sible bulk and weight. Usually only one pound is required 
for every hundred square feet, or four hundred pounds per 
acre. A little of it is sufficient for a large area. Herein lies 
its economy as compared with other plant foods. 





TAKOMA ODORLESS GARDEN PLANT FOOD. 

^ To supply the needs of flowers, vegetables and shrubs we 
manufacture also this complete food. Its analysis is quite 
different from Takoma Odorless Lawn Plant Food for the 

Page 26 



THE MAINTENANCE OF LAWNS 

reason that those plants for which it is intended require very- 
different foods from an established lawn. In addition to 
phosphoric acid, lime and nitrogen, Takoma Odorless Garden 
Plant Food contains a lai-ge amount of potash, an ingredient 
very essential to gardens. 



METHOD OF DELIVERY. 

^ Takoma Odorless Plant Foods for Lawns and Gardens are 
ready for immediate application as they come to you with- 
out any further mixing, dissolving or any trouble on your 
part. To apply them is an easy, quick, and in no manner un- 
pleasant task. 

^ Freight and express shipments for large lawns and golf 
courses are packed in double bags containing one hundred 
or two hundred pounds net. Parcel post shipments are put 
up in strong neat packages containing from ten pounds net 
to fifty pounds gross (the parcel post limit for the first two 
zones) . 

^ To points within two zones of Washington (which in- 
cludes Philadelphia and its suburbs ; Cumberland, Md. ; 
Lynchburg and Norfolk, Va.) parcel post delivery of orders 
up to and including two hundred pounds is not only as cheap, 
but more reliable and expeditious than express or freight. 

Page 87 



THE MAINTENANCE OF LAWNS 

Within this limit, the plant foods will usually be delivered at 
your door the next day after receipt of order. You avoid 
any uncertainty as to time of delivery and the necessity of 
hunting for an expressman to bring your shipment from the 
station. 



^ Our business is exclusively mail order. A mail order 
business enables you to deal direct with the manufacturer, 

and so save the commissions to which local distributors are 
entitled. From our standpoint, this method of doing busi- 
ness places us in immediate contact with our customers, 
which would be impossible otherwise. 



ODORLESS PLANT FOOD COMPANY 

Takoma Park, 
WASHINGTON, D. C. 




ANUFACTURERS of Takoma Odorless Lawn Plant 
Food for Golf Courses and Putting Greens. For top- 
dressing established Lawns. For top-dressing Roses, 
other Flowers and Vegetables which lack vigor. 
ANUFACTURERS of Takoma Odorless Garden Plant 
Food for Vegetable Gardens, Flower Beds and new 
Lawns when prepared. For use anytime during the 
spring or summer on Shrubs, Bush Fruits or Fruit Trees. 

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